Agmates

Central Queensland Grazier Linda Hewitt writes:

This is the pictorial story of the disaster of the Central Queensland floods from our property “Fork Lagoon” which is approx 34kms west of Emerald. Fortunately we are one of the lucky ones, we got our stock moved to higher ground just in time.

These floods will prove disastrous for the Emerald and central Queensland economy. The losses suffered by the farming and mining industry which the Emerald township’s economy has been thriving on, will severely hurt the towns economy. This will take years to recover from.

A Brahman cow hanging on for dear life. She epitomizes the many many thousands of cattle washed away in the Belyando River Area. At least she made it. Many, many did not.

Click here to see all these photos in full screen size. They are very impressive in full size.

“Fork Lagoon” house is 3/4 surrounded – in trees at the centre left of the photo below. The water rushed out of the hills behind us and took out the road leading into the house, the dam wall and the fences etc. We received 6 inches (150mm) in about 5 hours, and another 4 inches (100mm) in the next few hours. All up we got 18.75 inches (470mm) for the 3 days. We’d already had one week of wet weather – drizzle – before this so the country was very wet already.

The supposed dam in front of the house. You can see on the right where the dam wall ends, there should be a dam wall going across the front of the “island” which we had purposely left in the middle of our house dam. We have retained water at the old water level, and the dam is beautifully clean now. Always a positive to every negative.

Colin Hewitt & son Jack inspecting damage in Jacks chopper about 11am. Water had peaked during the night, so these photo’s do not show the highest levels.

Flying west of our house, Kettle Creek, running past our house, going through “Fork Lagoon” towards Emerald over the low range about 34kms away.

The 6 Charolais bulls we though had been swept away. By now you can see some of the water has receded. These boys would have had a terrifying night.

Fork Lagoon house on left.

One of the 5 dam banks burst. Water came so quickly it just went straight over the top. The dams never had a chance with the huge tide of water that hit.

Another dam bank gone. Water has taken the entire front wall. Note the top of the fence lines are just visable out of the water at top left of the photo below. This photo was taken many hours after the waters peaked.

This Grain Feeder had 2-3 Tonnes of feed in it. It got picked up and floated over 2 fences, without breaking a wire in them. It finished up on its head. It has to be deep, strong flowing water to do that.

One of our neighbors Machinery Shed.

Crops near Emerald. This is a high walled Irrigation Ring Tank surrounded by prime cropping land. Ring Tanks are filled by pumping into them not by catching run-off. Hence the blue coloured water (rain water) in the tank and the brown sea of flood water outside the tank. Wasn’t far from going straight over the top of it – amazing.

Mick & Jack doing hay drops to stranded cattle.

Flooding around the town of Emerald.

The country just outside of Emerald was an “inland sea”. The dot you can see in the middle is a Brahman Cow that had managed to hang on to a small spot of high ground.

Some people had driven cars out on the high ground on main roads outside of their farms, meaning to walk out to the cars if it got too bad. But the water came so quick and so high that the cars themselves got drowned. Even those that were well prepared got caught out!!!!

Agmates Editor Steve Truman writes:

In what is great news for Rural and Regional Queenslander’s, Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry and member for Cairns, Desley Boyle (pictured) announced today, guaranteed better and cheaper regional air services for Queensland.

The Bligh Labor Government under it’s Regional Transport Initiative – qconnect – will deliver major service improvements and fare reductions across the State from April 1st Ms Boyle announced in Cairns today.

“The government will invest $4.8 million dollars every year (for the next 5 years) to ensure that fares are kept at affordable levels on all routes and to guarantee services are viable in areas of low demand,” Ms Boyle said. “These new contracts confirm the governments commitment to affordable regular air services to country and regional Queensland for at least the next 5 years.”

This is Government policy that really impacts positively on the lives of people in Rural and Regional Queensland and we here at Agmates congratulate the Bligh Labor government on it’s implementation.

QLD State Opposition MP’s welcomed the announcement. Member for Gregory Vaughan Johnson (pictured) based in Longreach and a regular user of the Longreach to Brisbane service said ” For Longreach, Barcaldine and Blackall I welcome the increased seat capacity and on the Longreach-Brisbane sector I welcome the direct Q400 flights, 3 times a week that reduce flight time to just 2 hours.

Highlites of qconnect regional air service routes from April 1st;

Western 1 – Brisbane to Oakey, St George, Cunnamulla and Thargominda – MacAir is introducing the new 34 seat SAAB 340’s (pictured below) on the routes it has across the State. (replaces 19 seat Metros). As part of the contract MacAir has offered to fund introduction of airconditioners & water coolers to all these air ports. Airports firstly have obtain certification to carry the new SAAB 340B’s that boast full standing head room, overhead lockers, onboard toilet, cabin staff and in-flight meals.

Western 2 - Brisbane to Charleville, Quilpie, Windorah, Birdsville, Bedourie, Boulia & Mt Isa. MacAir with the 34 seat SAAB’s which replace the 19 seat Metros. MacAir will fly 2 aircraft, one based in Mt Isa and the other in Brisbane with passengers transiting in Windorah. This will increase on-time performance and customer satisfaction. Pictured below is the interior of the new MacAir SAAB 340B’s interior with full standing head room, overhead lockers and onboard toilet.

Central 1. Brisbane to Roma, Charleville: QantasLink with mostly 50 seat Dash 8 planes (increase of capacity by 40%). Significant fare reductions, introduction of residents-only fare cutting the lowest price fare Charleville to Brisbane by $34 to $135 and Roma to Brisbane by $30 to just $89. Services to Roma increase from 10-13 return a week including twice daily Monday to Friday and Sunday’s. Increased direct flights Charleville to Roma (ie not via Roma) reducing flight times by 25 minutes.

Central 2. Brisbane to Barcaldine / Blackall and Longreach. QantasLink with 72 seat Bombardier Q400 (pictured below) and 50 seat Dash 8’s. Three direct flights each week cut flight times by 20%. Barcaldine / Blackall retain 3 services per week each with Roma service extended to Barcaldine twice a week. New resident-only lowest fare cuts Longreach to Brisbane by $30 to $149, and from Barcaldine and Blackall to Brisbane to $139.

Northern 1. Townsville to Winton and Longreach. MacAir with 34 set SAAB 340, replacing 19 seat Metros once Winton airport is certified to take the plane. Max fare levels to Townsville reduced by $30 for Longreach and $10 for Winton passengers. MacAir to aircondition airports and install water coolers.

Northern 2. Townsville to Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek and Mt Isa. MacAir with the 34 seat SAAB 340B’s, replacing the 19 seat Metros once all airports are certified.

Northern 3. Townsville to Cloncurry and Mt Isa. MacAir with 50 seat ATR-42. Fares unchanged. Airconditioners and water coolers to be installed in Airports by MacAir.

Gulf. Cairns to Normanton, Gununa, Burketown, Doomadgee and Mt Isa. MacAir 34 Seta SAAB 340B’s.Maximum fares slashed. eg Mornington Island to Cairns slashed $70, Doomadgee to Mt Isa $60. Airconditioning and water coolers in Airports.

Cairns to Horn Island. QantasLink with larger & faster 72 seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft, cutting travel time by 25 minutes and increasing capacity by 40%. Three additional services to Cairns per week via Weipa. Resident-only fares cut lowest price fare from Horn Island to Cairns by $76 or 43% to just $99.

Cairns to Weipa. QantasLink with the larger & faster 72 seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop, cutting travel times by 15 minutes. 16 services a week with a 59% increased capacity and triple daily service Monday / Wednesday / Friday and double on Tuesday / Thursday / Sunday. New resident-only fare cuts lowest price fare from Weipa to Cairns by $60 to just $89.

Shadow Minister for Transport Tim Nicholls also welcomed the news saying “the $4.8 million a year investment was important in guaranteeing Queenslander’s had access to affordable, reliable transport, no matter what part of the State they lived in.”

He went onto say “While the new services are a real improvement the Government needs to step up to the plate and move to make sure all airports on these routes are certified to take the new SAABs by the 1st of April, when the new contract begins.

Agmates Editor Steve Truman writes

Queensland Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce has put the power brokers of the National and Liberal parties on notice.

In an exclusive interview with Agmates today Senator Joyce (pictured below in a cotton field at St George) announced that if merger talks between the two parties are blocked by self interest groups in either party he will fully support a break away Conservative Party made up of National and like minded Liberal MP’s both state and federal who support the move for the reinvention and reinvigoration of Conservative politics in Australia.

Senator Joyce said, “I will be closely watching the outcome of Nationals and Liberals meetings over the weekend”. Speer head and champion of the merger push, new Queensland Nationals Leader Lawrence Springborg is meeting in Sydney on Friday with the Nationals federal executive including every State Party Leader and President. Mr Springborg with the full support of QLD State Liberal Leader Mark McArdle is pushing for the formation of an “eminent persons group” made up of Senior Liberals and Nationals charged with bringing the merger of the two parties into reality.

In the lead up to those meeting Senator Joyce today put the “blowtorch” to the National & Liberal executive declaring: “If at anytime it becomes obvious that the process is being “undermined or stonewalled” by forces within the Liberal or National party I’ll be calling on Like minded Nationals and Liberals to join me in the formation of “new” Conservative party.”

Speaking to Agmates from St George today Senator Joyce said, “I’m not prepared to sit back and watch the house burn down around me. My greatest fear is that this review will be like the numerous ones that have preceeded it. In those reviews people wrote submissions, had their say and everyone felt good about it. But at the end of the day nothing changed. I’m not prepared to let that happen again.”

Senator Joyce went on to explain “The Nationals have lost there way because they failed in the last term of government to differentiate themselves. Whatever was Liberal party policy was National Party policy by default. Every time I took a stand on behalf of the people I represent as a Senator for Queensland and that stand was contrary to “party” policy I was publicly and privately castigated (by the party)- thats just not good enough.”

“With a new conservative party you’d have the capacity for a strong regional emphasis, as well as a strong small-business emphasis, as well as a conservative, family-based emphasis, and thats what my constitutes are telling me they want ” he said.

“We can’t change anything from opposition, we have to get back to government, but not the way it was. We have real issues that people want addressed, such as repealing the draconian State Native Vegetation laws, securing peoples property rights and abandoning the “Free Trade” at all costs policy that was pursued by the previous Liberal controlled conservative government.”

Senator Joyce went on to say, “Unless there is the formation of a new United Conservative Party the National Party will wither and die on the vine. The facts are as aging sitting members have retired in the past those seats have either gone Liberal or to Independents. We are heading to a crisis time Federally with Senior QLD National MP’s like Paul Neville, Bruce Scott and Warren Truss all into their 60’s.” Senator Joyce said.

Nationals State MP and Shadow minister for Police & Corrective Services Vaughan Johnson expressed the sentiments of QLD National MP’s when he told Agmates today “Lawrence Springborg has my 100% support in his campaign to merg the Nationals and Liberal parties. Lawrence’s return to the leadership has breathed new life, energy and vision into conservative politics.”

When Agmates asked Mr Johnson (pictured below at an anti-council amalgamation rally) if he would support Senator Joyce’s call to form a new party of Nationals and like minded Liberals if merger talks failed he said “absolutely, what Lawrence has begun has completely renewed our enthusiasm, what we were doing before Lawrence’s re-election didn’t work, going back to that is not an option”

As one of the QLD Nationals most senior front bencher’s Mr Johnson went onto say “I’ve been the State MP for Gregory for a long time and I’ve seen a dramatic change in the people in my electorate over the past decade. It’s a vast, isolated country out here”, said Mr Johnson speaking by phone from his Longreach office.

“Up until a few years ago people only knew what was happening via the ABC radio news or week old newspapers. Access to the internet and TV has changed all that. People in the bush today are well informed and as a result a whole lot more interested in what we as politicians are doing to represent them. As a result they expect to be listened too, because they know a whole lot more about whats going on. It’s now up to us as members of parliament and political parties to respond to that.” Mr Johnson said.

Agmates Editor Steve Truman writes:

Adam Gilchrist retired from test cricket today. One of rural and regional Australia’s greatest ever sportsmen has left the game “on his terms” – just the same way he has played the game and the way he lives his life.

Adam Gilchrist or “Gily” was born in 1971 at Bellingen on the North Coast of New South Wales. He lived at Dorrigo where he attended Dorrigo Public School. At the age of 13, his parents, Stan and June, moved to Lismore were he attended the local school and captained the school team.

Gily is married to his high school sweetheart Melinda (Mel) and they have 2 sons and a daughter. An intensely loyal family man he is looking forward to spending a lot more time with his family. “Gily” is admired world wide within the Cricketing nations as a man of unquestionable integrity.

Matthew Hayden champion open bat and another country boy summed it up when he said………”He’s been a remarkable Australian, he’s held the baggy green in his hand with great pride and passion, great discipline, great work ethic……….a fantastic leader and had the ability to be able to change the game and that has made Adam one of the greatest players who ever played the game..

Richie Benaud Australian cricketing great said “Gilchrist has changed the way cricket is played……..simply one of the finest cricketers I’ve ever seen.” Benaud was referring to the fact that Gily has helped revolutionize the Test match game as an attacking No 7 batsman who scored 5,556 runs at 47.89, with a highest score of 204 not out, including 17 test centuries.

He retires from all forms of cricket once the upcoming one day series is over. In one-day internationals he has scored 9,297 runs at an average of 36.03 with 15 centuries and a highest score of 172. He has taken a total of 454 dismissals in the one-day game.

Make sure you watch him in his last one dayer’s. You are witnessing an all time great of the game. So long “Gily” and thanks for the great memories.

Agmates Editor Steve Truman writes:

Our USA Agmate Joel Gill sent us an email to remind us of the sacrifice our armed forces make for us. I got really emotional when I first saw this.

My brother, Justin’s 21 year old daughter Hollie (my niece) serves in the Australian Army. Holly had been in Darwin with her troop and they were due for service in Iraq next month. Thankfully one of the first things the Rudd Labor government did was cancel sending more troops to that god forsaken place.

Below is taken from the information Joel sent. It’s as relevant to US troops as it is our Aussie troops. While I don’t agree with them being there I have huge respect for the men and women who serve in our respective countries armed forces.

You stay up for 16 hours, they stay up for days on end.

We take a warm shower to help us wake up.

They go days or weeks without running water.

We complain of a headache, and call in sick.

They get shot at, (as others are hit) and still keep moving forward.

They put on their anti war shirt, and go and meet with friends.

They still fight for the right for them to wear that shirt.

We make sure our mobile phone is in our pocket.

He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

We rubbish our “mates” that arn’t with us.

He knows he may not see some of his mates again.

You walk down the beach, looking at all the pretty girls.

He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

We complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

We go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got our order wrong.

They don’t get to eat today.

Your mum, or partner makes your bed and washes your cloths.

He wears the same thing for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to your salon and get your hair redone.

He doesn’t have time to brush his teeth today.

Your angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

He’s told he’ll be held over an extra 2 months.

You call your girlfriend / boyfriend and set a date for tonight.

They wait for mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You roll your eyes when your baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new child and wonders if they’ll ever meet.

We criticize our government and say war never solves anything.

He see the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he’s fighting.

We hear hear the jokes about the war and make fun of men like him.

He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.

We see only what the media wants us to see.

He see’s the broken bodies lying around him.

We stay at home and watch TV

They take whatever time they are given to call, write home eat & sleep.

We crawl into our soft bed, with down pillows and get comfortable.

They try to get some sleep, but are woken by mortars and helicopters all night long.

All these brave men and women are all someones , brother, sister, daughter, son.

Agmates Editor Steve Truman writes:

Announcing the launch of the all new Agmates site – “Where Rural and Regional Australian’s Buy & Sell“.

See above, at the top of the news page now gives you the ability to click through to anywhere on the entire site and back to the news. Click on Home and it takes you to the front page of the new site – see below.

Save 1,000’s of dollars in commission and advertising costs when your selling. Find what your looking for anywhere in Australia. Do it all from your own computer – reach 1,000’s of people across Rural & Regional Australia with your product or message.

Agmates makes it so simple and cheap to build your own web listing - no computer skills required. If you can type and send an email you can now create your own web listing on Agmates. Not only that but you can change it anytime you like, right from your home or office computer, any time, night or day.

Click on the “BROWSE” tab to find Agistment, Breeding Studs, Cattle, CD’s-Games-Books, Contractors, Dairy Cattle, Dogs, Goats, Horses, Jobs, People Looking For Things, Lost & Found, Machinery & Plant, Other Livestock, Businesses, Real Estate, Sheep. See the browse page below and all the sub categories.

Each category tells you how many items are listed for sale with a number in brackets. Click on anything your looking for (with a number in the brackets, 0 means no listings yet) and it will take you directly to the category.

You then chose the sub category at the top of the page or just click on one of the listings you see on your page, to see the full description and the photos. When the photos are clicked on they open up to a large size. See the example of a Charbray Stud listing below, with in this case with up to 20 photos. At any time you can go back by clicking the BROWSE tab at the top.

Selling on the Agmates is simple, easy and cheap.

Just click on the “SELL” tab at the top to start the process. Then you just click which main category your item goes into and click next at the bottom. The only thing you should do before you start is know how many photos you have and resize them for uploading (this is the only technical bit). For uploading speed it’s best to get your photos under 100kb (if your on broadband if on dial up under 40kb) or a mx of 1,000 x 800. Don’t know how to resize photos? There are very detailed help notes on this page and if that does not work then there is a 24 hour, 7 day a week help line you can call. See the Sell page here.

Depending on which category you chose on the above screen the next screen asks you now to chose a sub category, you click it and then click next at the bottom. In this example if you choose “Cattle” on the above screen the next one will ask you to chose what type of cattle. See below.

Your listing is well under way, just add price, description & photos and your done.

Now on the next screen if you are listing cattle as in this example, you 1st enter your asking price, then the GST amount and then the total (Australian Taxation Law requires this). Then you enter the Title. The title is the 1st thing that people see so make it descriptive. Then the details of what you are selling. Don’t be concerned about making mistakes, once the listing is live you can alter / change any of this at any time through your “My Agmates” page.

When you are finished with the details just click next at the bottom. You have almost finished. (If you are not logged in or have not registered as a user you will be asked to do so here.)

Uploading Your Photo’s

Now just to upload your photos and activate the listing. All you do is click the Browse button on the screen. A window will open and you find the file on your computer where you have saved the resized photos . Once you have found the file and opened it click on the photo you want and click open. (You don’t have to find the file the second time, the computer remembers where they are).

Then it the text box below type in a few words that describe to people what they are seeing in the photo. Then click upload and wait. If you are on broadband and your photo is under 100kb it will take about 10 seconds. If you are not on broadband make sure that you photos are under 40kb or it will take a few minutes for each photo to load. Then just repeat the steps until all of your allowable photo’s have uploaded. You can change your photos or the description at any time once it is live through your “My Agmates” page.

You have finished creating you listing, you can see it by clicking the Preview listing link. Your listing is only visible to you until you have made payment.

Making Payments:

If you are comfortable using your credit card, click the PayPal button and go ahead and make payment with your credit card. PayPal handles all of our credit card payments. Your credit card details are removed from PayPal as soon as payment is made. Neither Agmates or PayPal stores your credit card details, so it is totally safe. We use PayPal because they are the number one credit card payment processor in the world. The millions or credit card payment made on EBay are all processed by PayPal. You don’t need to join PayPal to use it just click the link “Other’ at the bottom and enter your card details. When you are finished you’ll coome straight back to Agmates and your listing will be live for the world to see.

Manual Invoice: If you are not comfortable using your credit card, just click the Manual Invoice button. Another screen will open and just click on Send an Email to notify us that you have place an ad and are requesting an invoice. We will then email an invoice to you and can pay by Cheque or Direct Deposit. You listing does not appear live until payment has been received. Note there is an extra $10 processing charged on your listing for manual invoicing.

Studs, Businesses, Contractors and Real Estate Listing have the choice of two listing layouts. You can change from one to the other at any time through your “My Agmates” tab. This is a example of a cluster type photo display -

And this is exactly the same property ad with the photos displayed stacked on top of one another and the photo description appearing in text along side. This may be attractive to Studs, Business, Contractors who want to advertise up to 20 different animals / items / services with different details and prices. It is a web site within a web site.

There are many other, small little features that make Agmates so easy to use. Try it and see for yourself. Just click on the “HOME” tab at the top of this page to go straight to the site.

Please leave us your thoughts, comments, questions or suggests for changes or inclusions to the site. We are committed to providing you with a simple, user friendly and cheap way to sell and buy in Rural & Regional Australia.

Agmates Editor Steve Truman writes:

Agmates story “Seeney – Dead Man Walking” published on the 21st of December was chillingly correct. Our sources within the National party told us ” Jeff Seeney heads off on 4 weeks holiday on Monday the 24th, he is either expected to step down as leader or face a leadership challenge on his return to work on Monday the 21st of January.”

No other media source, not even Brisbane’s Courier Mail had this information. The story broke in the mainstream media on the 18th of January, a full month after you read it on Agmates. “No Brag, just fact” (words made popular by the fastest gunslinger in the west, Will Sonnett, played by actor Walter Brennan, for those of you old enough to remember the show)

Our sources told us “…. the new leader will come from one of 3 MPs.” Those 3 MP’s were former leader Lawrence Springborg (not expected to get up), Deputy Leader Fiona Simpson and impressive first termer, Member for Gympie David Gibson. Deputy Leader Fiona Simpson was considered the likely new leader.

So what happened.

Untill last Friday (18/01/08) Jeff Seeney considered his position as leader to be safe. Thought he still didn’t realize it at the time, that all changed when he was contacted by his deputy Fiona Simpson to be informed that he had lost her support as party leader.

Still unaware of what was happening within the party Jeff Seeney called a National Party Room meeting for his first day back at work, the following Monday (21st) to throw open the leadership position, confident that he had the numbers.

That Seeney went into the meeting confident that he had the numbers, when he in fact he did not is typical of his 16 months leadership. Mr Seeney is a confrontationist who ruled the party by force of his personality. His downfall as it has been many times during his stint as leader is that he is not a good listener, does not suffer anybody who disagrees with him and is not noted for his attention to detail.

If Mr Seeney had been listening to his fellow MP’s he would have known that the formation of one non-labor conservative party in Queensland had become paramount in the majority of his fellow MP’s minds and the whole leadership equation had changed.

In the two weeks leading up to the leadership spill Agmates can reveal that at least 10 of the 16 QLD National MP’s (excluding Mr Seeney) had decided that the uniting of the conservative political parties in Queensland was essential. With the real possibility of Premier Anna Bligh calling an election later in 2009 to gain her own mandate to govern, the issue for these 10 MP’s moved from being an interesting idea to a matter of the gravest urgency.

Recent polling had revealed that if Premier Anna Bligh did go to the polls, her Labor party would increase it’s majority and take seats off both the Nationals and the Liberals in Queensland. Armed with that information, the MP’s minds then turned to who was the best person to handle the difficult and delicate task of forming one moderate conservative party in Queensland. The obvious choice was Lawrence Springborg.

Seeney right up to the 11th hour misread the intention of his colleagues. He was certain going into the vote that he had the backing of 11 of 16 of his fellow MP’s, but he lost the secret ballot convincingly. Bewildered by the result he told the awaiting media “I will forever despise” those who have undermined me, referring to those MP’s who had assured him of their support prior to the meeting, but had then secretly voted against him.

He went on to say ” There were some people in there today, even people who raised issues in the media ( a clear reference to the Agmates article of 21/12/07 and our un named National Party sources) while I’ve been on holidays, who didn’t have the courage to stand up and raise issues in the party room. That sort of cowardice is in complete contradicition to my character”.

What Seeney did not know and cannot not comprehend was that his supporters had moved to a higher level of thinking. Now believing that the formation of a unified conservative party in Queensland was the only way forward, they had adjudged that Seeney with his overbearing and confrontational style of leadership was not the man they needed to lead the Nationals into “unity” with the Liberals and other conservative parties.

There was no need for any of his supporters who secretly turned on him, to raise the issue in the party room. They’d made up their minds before they ever got to the meeting and to declare their hand in the party room prior to the vote would be to create an enemy for life. What Mr Seeney considers one of his strength’s is in fact a weakness no Party leader can indulge. But I guess you can’t take out, what nature put in, they are not know as “the fighting Seeney’s” for nothing.

By popular demand it’s, So long Jeff “the gunfighter”, welcome Lawrence the “unifier”.

New South Wales Farmer Peter Spencer writes:

Agmates Comment:

Finally NSW farmer Peter Spencer is to get his legal right to a court hearing. Through the implementation of Land Clearing ban’s via the NSW State Governments Native Vegetation Act, Peter’s Alpine property has been rendered worthless, to date without any compensation.

Many people, green organizations and politicians have forwarded the argument that farmers have to stop land clearing for “the National Good” so we could meet our Kyoto targets.

These same people also argue that no compensation should be paid. This was certainly the argument put forward by the previous Coalition Government and the State Labor governments.

Thomas Jefferson (pictured), the 3rd US President

“All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle (of a free and just democracy), that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail (the will of the majority in Australia is that land clearing should be stopped), that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority (farmers affected by those Land Clearing bans) possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.” (Locking up huge areas of privately owned productive farming land under state Native Vegetation Legeslation without compensation has violated private landholders legal rights. This by definition of one of the founding fathers of Democracy Thomas Jefferson – is oppression).

It is now up to the legal system here in Australia to protect this minority of it’s citizens against this legislative oppression.

Peter Spencer reports:

Today the Vacation Judge in the Supreme Court of NSW, the Hon Justice John Perry Hamilton, made orders restraining the Minister for Climate Change the Hon Phil Koperberg and the Conservation Trust of NSW administered by his Department on the application of Monaro farmer Peter Spencer ( pictured below ).

Peter Spencer has claimed that the NSW Government at the request of the Commonwealth has destroyed the productive use of his land, by means of the harsh implementation measures both governments have adopted under the National Vegetation Initiative.

Acknowledging this the NSW Government has offered to buy Mr Spencer’s land under the Farmers Exit Assistance Programme. Mr Spencer claims that offer is at a significant undervalue. When the matter came before the Court on 4 January 2008 Hamilton J indicated that he thought there was an arguable case for injunctive relief by the Court, especially on the ground of unconscionable conduct by the State.

The Minister and the Trust agreed to the interim orders by consent today, allowing Peter Spencer to argue his case at final hearing, which is expected by the middle of the year.

Mr Spencer’s counsel Mr Peter King argued before the Court that Mr Spencer was a genuine victim of the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Mr King also argued that not withstanding the importance of the aims of Kyoto people like Peter Spencer should not be discriminated against.

“He was being asked to shoulder a disproportionate burden for implementing the Kyoto measures” he said.

Mr Spencer said today

“I am relieved that the Court has given me an opportunity to put my case on these questions. I believe it is unconscionable that the Conservation Trust has accepted my case that on the one hand the Native Vegetation Act 2003 has put me out of business and then on the other hand seeks to make a profit out of me by buying the land at a gross undervalue, only then to re-sell it later at a profit.”

END

QLD Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce writes:

The New Year has arrived for Parliament and the Bogong moths, so prevalent in Canberra’s Parliament House, catching on fire in lights, setting off alarms and generally disturbing the dignity of proceedings, have finished their migration north; dropping in at my office in their thousands to get the quinella of both Canberra and St George.

Photo of Senator Joyce’s Office invaded by the Bogong Moths at St George Western Queensland.

Surprisingly enough they only appear in large numbers in St George on our building, very discerning moths indeed. The political migration south must be imminent and, in the process of watching the moths being consumed by the birds from the office window, it is time to consider what is imminent in the year ahead.

The Senate shall be crucial in the coming term as the only mechanism able to force mitigation to the effect of one party rule in Australia. I hope the commitments given by Labor in amendments moved to the Trade Practices Act in the final weeks of Parliament last year are honoured in the current year and also that Telstra is held to its promise not to withdraw CDMA until the Next G network is equivalent or better.

“Most importantly, it will be vital that Labor’s rhetoric on economic management matches, in some fashion, its capacity. The economic world appears to be entering a period of turmoil. Australians have relied upon the Coalition’s management, confidence in whose ability brought higher debt levels because people could rely upon lower interest rates. A change in this fundamental of economics will have catastrophic effect upon the personal wealth of Australians and the economic base of our nation. Australia is geared for stability and the management of instability will be crucial.

Barnaby at a local St George service station, showing his support for Ethanol-blended fuel.

Fuel shall drain the budgets of working families because of the complete lack of motivation to proceed with cheaper alternatives such as ethanol for fear of offending the inherent oil company oligopoly. The oil companies are making a fortune out of their control of our total reliance upon the products only they produce and market. The only real competition to the oil companies is the family budget’s inability to pay for fuel so that families can no longer afford to drive.

Finally if Iran provokes a fight with the US then all else, as a problem, will pale into insignificance. Senator Joyce said today.

Agmates Editor Steve Truman writes:

Japanese demand for Australian beef fell 7% in 2007, with total exports for the year declining to 377,864 metric tons.Â

Meat and Livestock Australia has cited the high Australian dollar, competition from the United States and buyers’ unwillingness to foot the rising cost of producing grainfed beef.